Chapter 6c
Lesson planning is an integral aspect of teaching, without ample preparation lessons are going to flop. I find lesson plans most beneficial for mapping out questioning. Planning a variety of questions at different cognitive levels ensures a balanced lesson. Keeping a record of lesson plans that work and revising ones that don't are a great way to prepare for coming school years.
Chapter 7a
Maintaining records of student achievement important to teacher success since teacher evaluations are beginning to use the Danielson model. Teachers are required to show evidence based improvement in students, not only academically but behaviorally as well. Maintaining checklists or spreadsheets for tracking student behavior is an easy way to collect data.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Chapter 5b
What stood out to me most in this section was preparing and dealing with controversy because when I was novice teaching I taught in a school with values and ideas very different from my own. I agree with what is said in the book, that respect and understanding is the best way to approach controversial situations. By not only listening but understanding the ideas my students held I was able teach in a manner true to myself but in line with the school's beliefs. I found the word bank in exercise 5.8 a useful tool in future lesson plan writing.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
4a & 4b
Chapter 4a
I find that my classroom management approach tends to align most with Ginott. This type of philosophy works great in developing strong relationships with students, but is not as firm in discipline as other theories. As a science teacher the layout of potential classroom environments is varied. I like the idea of having a separate laboratory space, especially in the middle school setting, because it allows me to establish separate learning environments for students each with different expectations. Getting to know students is the best part of being a teacher, learning about who students are as people will in turn help you relate what you are teaching to their lives. I can say since starting student teaching the hardest aspect of teaching is the interruptions to learning. Every day a different student is sick, on a field trip, or even parent excused for a vacation. Keeping track of students' missing work is near impossible, and establishing a system to manage this issue is a must to catching students up.
Chapter 4b
Being prepared by having established procedures and consequences prior to "The First Day" is essential to a successful school year. If the school does not have its own discipline system in place the teacher need to create and display classroom expectations and consequences. Teachers have different first day of school plans based on their teaching style and methodology. I would initially assign seats using a periodic table activity, then after an explanation of classroom expectations and procedures I would incorporate a mini lab so I can explain laboratory procedures. Having a warm-up activity is a great all around strategy; students come into class knowing what is expected of them, the teacher has time to take attendance, can be used as pre-test, review, critical thinking, etc.
I find that my classroom management approach tends to align most with Ginott. This type of philosophy works great in developing strong relationships with students, but is not as firm in discipline as other theories. As a science teacher the layout of potential classroom environments is varied. I like the idea of having a separate laboratory space, especially in the middle school setting, because it allows me to establish separate learning environments for students each with different expectations. Getting to know students is the best part of being a teacher, learning about who students are as people will in turn help you relate what you are teaching to their lives. I can say since starting student teaching the hardest aspect of teaching is the interruptions to learning. Every day a different student is sick, on a field trip, or even parent excused for a vacation. Keeping track of students' missing work is near impossible, and establishing a system to manage this issue is a must to catching students up.
Chapter 4b
Being prepared by having established procedures and consequences prior to "The First Day" is essential to a successful school year. If the school does not have its own discipline system in place the teacher need to create and display classroom expectations and consequences. Teachers have different first day of school plans based on their teaching style and methodology. I would initially assign seats using a periodic table activity, then after an explanation of classroom expectations and procedures I would incorporate a mini lab so I can explain laboratory procedures. Having a warm-up activity is a great all around strategy; students come into class knowing what is expected of them, the teacher has time to take attendance, can be used as pre-test, review, critical thinking, etc.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Chapters 2a, 2b, & 3
Chapter 2a
I am a generally indecisive person, but as a teacher decision making is an integral part of my job. In taking my time and thinking out decisions during the first phase of instruction, the decisions in the following phases become easier. When teaching young adolescents it is important to have a facilitating teaching style that allows for individualized instruction. In order to have the greatest impact on students, teachers need to fulfill non instructional responsibilities. Becoming familiar with the various laws effecting teachers, students, and educational institutions is necessary in order to avoid career damaging accusations.
Chapter 2b
When it comes to building instructional competencies an area I struggle most with implementing a variety of new strategies into instruction. Although I use more than one strategy to teach a lesson, the continued use of the same strategies may become to repetitive to middle school students. The three basic rules for becoming a competent teacher of young adolescents are concise in writing, but mastery of them appears to come with experience. Being consistent and accountable in actions and instruction are two of the most important teacher behaviors for promoting student learning. Using a variety of instructional tools teachers of young adolescents can connect concepts to different learning styles.
Chapter 3
At the middle school level it is important for teachers to not only ask questions to promote high learning, but also teach students how to question. Taking the time to formulate essential and stimulating questions prior to instruction benefits the students immensely. By asking variety of questions types and using different levels of cognitive questions, normally scaffolding from most basic to most analytical, help develop students' intelligent behavior. As a middle school teacher I would encourage students to ask any and all questions, from clarification to higher levels of cognition.
I am a generally indecisive person, but as a teacher decision making is an integral part of my job. In taking my time and thinking out decisions during the first phase of instruction, the decisions in the following phases become easier. When teaching young adolescents it is important to have a facilitating teaching style that allows for individualized instruction. In order to have the greatest impact on students, teachers need to fulfill non instructional responsibilities. Becoming familiar with the various laws effecting teachers, students, and educational institutions is necessary in order to avoid career damaging accusations.
Chapter 2b
When it comes to building instructional competencies an area I struggle most with implementing a variety of new strategies into instruction. Although I use more than one strategy to teach a lesson, the continued use of the same strategies may become to repetitive to middle school students. The three basic rules for becoming a competent teacher of young adolescents are concise in writing, but mastery of them appears to come with experience. Being consistent and accountable in actions and instruction are two of the most important teacher behaviors for promoting student learning. Using a variety of instructional tools teachers of young adolescents can connect concepts to different learning styles.
Chapter 3
At the middle school level it is important for teachers to not only ask questions to promote high learning, but also teach students how to question. Taking the time to formulate essential and stimulating questions prior to instruction benefits the students immensely. By asking variety of questions types and using different levels of cognitive questions, normally scaffolding from most basic to most analytical, help develop students' intelligent behavior. As a middle school teacher I would encourage students to ask any and all questions, from clarification to higher levels of cognition.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Chapter 1
Despite advances in educational research and continuous technological growth, complex challenges continue to face educators today. An unequal distribution of funding per student across the U.S. leaves many facilities lacking in capabilities. Legislation, such as NCLB, has continuously been passed; focusing more on standardized testing than it does RTI and student centered learning. During middle school years students are beginning to change, both physically and emotionally, at different rates. Encouraging collaborative learning and teaching organizational and time management skills are necessary to the development of successful students. Teachers, especially in the middle school setting, need to implement various strategies within their lessons in order to engage students.
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